Today's letter differs from the rest because it's a letter on the home front sent from Noah's brother to Noah's wife informing her of what's been going on back at the homestead in Saskatchewan while Noah's enlisted, and she's spending the winter with family in Ontario.

Author of Letter: Percy Roy Draper, 33 yrs oldDated: Jan 1/17Mailed from: Grand Coulee, SaskatchewanAttached to: N/AProfession: FarmerRank: N/AAddressed to: Mrs. N.C. DraperRelationship: Sister-in-lawWriting instrument: PencilWriting Paper: 8" x 10" medium weight writing paper with a linen-look and feel. Percy has written straight across the first sheet and down to the bottom, left the backside blank, and then he's filled the second sheet, turned it over and finished halfway down the backside.

​Word or Phrase Use:car - automobile since a street car didn't run from Grand Coulee to Reginanearly strapped - out of moneyMerry X Mas

​Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see History Notes below​

​Grand Coulee​Jan 1/17

Mrs. N. C. Draper. Dear Ethel & children Received the Photos & think theyare fine. Have been waitingfor a letter from you ever sinceI came home but have not hadone as yet. how are you allany way we are all as usuallyI think around here. We havehad some very cold weatherever since I came home until last Friday it is quite mild now very little snow I was in to Reginawith the car this after noon theroads are fine. Well I had a letter from Noah that was wrotethe eighteenth of Dec said he hadhad his first experence on saltwater 20 of them trying to rowa boat 50 ft long and could notmake it go at all some sailors ah. Well Ethel the stalk is all​looking fine. I think the old man​

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is getting along pretty good nowhe was away for several days selebrati...just before I got home but wasback to work when I got homeWill had to do his chores while hewas away. I guess it wonthappen again now the doorsof the dispecers closed Saturday.Mr Buts was telling Will he wishedI would hurry home that he wasgoing to quit but he has nevermentioned it since I came. I seeby the Era that yous have lotsof snow now. Hope you hada merry X mas & a Happy new Year. Say Ethel have you sentMr Buts any money yet he camein the other .and said he wasnearly strapped. had been a littlereckles with what he had : But heis to get twenty dollars a monthisnt he. he would have $40 coming ​to him to night he said.​

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And your fire insurance I guessNoah forgot about it I will enclosethere letter to you it should be lookedafter at once. Well I must closehope you can make this letterout & dont forget to send us a line.

I remain --- as be fore Percy​

History Notes

There are 2 History notes for this letter...​

History Note 1- Prohibition

Prohibition reached Saskatchewan in April 1915 when Premier Walter Scott and his liberal government halted the sale of liquor within its borders. Bars had to close by 7 pm with no liquids carried home. According to the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, Premier Scott blamed alcohol for domestic violence and high crime rates, and felt that it was unpatriotic and more dangerous than German submarines. The following year, in July 1916, bar and club licenses were abolished. Individuals and businesses were prosecuted for non-compliance, and Saskatchewan became the first Canadian province to ban the sale of alcohol in the private sector.

As you can see from Percy's letter, written on January 1st, 1917, it's months later and liquor is still available. I wonder if it's because they were allowed to stay open while disposing of their stock? I don't know if the vendor in question was the local hotel, or if Mr. Butts had been in Regina, which grew into one of the hottest red light districts on the prairies in the following decade, but someone in the area seemed to have alcohol on hand.​

History Note 2- Fire Insurance

In this letter, Percy mentions that Noah and Ethel have received a letter for fire insurance and that he's going to send it to her because "it should be looked after at once".

It's interesting to note that one of the my first posts on these letters was ​1906 Percy's Policy which included the magnificent graphics of a life insurance document that is now 110 years old. Percy wasn't married at the time and although single adults of today are told they don't need to spend money on life insurance if they aren't married, Percy's beneficiary was his mother, Sarah Draper, who would receive $1000.00 upon his death, even while his father, David Draper, still lived.

Percy's admonition that Ethel see to the fire insurance at once was in direct contrast to Noah's response in WW1 Letters Home - Dec 19, 1916, when he says, "Well Ethel I dont know what money you mean for Percy to send down but if it was for that life insuranceI dont think I would pay it."​Noah doesn't know that Percy is talking about fire insurance rather than life insurance, but that makes it worse...Noah can't swim...he's in the navy and spends/will spend a majority of his time on the water...and he's heading into a war zone. Unless the policy is for someone else, why wouldn't Noah want Ethel to pay the premium on the life insurance?

The above photo is from Ethel's Treasure Box. The names of Young and Brooks have come up several times in these letters and yet this photo is in my Unknown folder because I don't know if these 2 men in this circa 1930+ photo are the same ones mentioned in the 1911-1912 letters. If anyone recognizes these men, please email me through my contact page.

Author of Letter: Ida Amelia Glover Nelson & Sadie NelsonDated: December 1 (1912)* Addressed to: Dear Ethel and NoahMailed from: Belhaven, OntarioRelationship: Mother & SisterProfession: Farmer's FamilyWriting instrument: Pen with Black InkWriting Paper: Medium weight, textured, linen-like paper, each written page 5" x 6". Paper is folded in half and written in booklet form with numbered pages. Although they've been written in the order of 1,3,2,4,5,7,6,8, I've shown them here in the order they were meant to be read.

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see Genealogy Notes below

December 1.

Dear Ethel and Noah I got your letter oneday last week and wasas usual glad to get it.it has been some timesince I wrote you butthan Sadie has beenwriting and I thoughtyou would rather haveher write as she doesso much better than I do.Sadie and Christie are at church and I am

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Writing Grandma Nelson a letteralso we got one from hera bout a month ago andgot a card from Auntanna last week. Sadie was in to Newmarketthursday and came home friday. she got a new hatand the stuff for a dressthe hat is white felttrimmed with pale blueand the dress is blueI will get marry a dayto start it off and thanI can finish it

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I made Christie one lastweek. it is navy sergetrimmed with plad. I and your pa was downto Uncle wills lastwensday. and it was stormyand I got cold in my faceand it has been verrysore since an I wasafraid it was going togather and brake butit is getting better I thinkI will have to get some of my teeth out.

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Mrs W. Young has beenverry poolely but is somebtter Just now doctorsaid she was apt todie at any time fromhart trouble and she hasa terrible cough people aregetting afraid to go therefor fear of comsumption sothink I wont go so oftenas I have. Mrs Andy Tompsonhas a little girl a bout aweek old, and Mrs JoeStickland has a littleboy a bout a weak old.

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Martha Brooks is home got here last tuesday,mister Brook was in today. and said she thinkshe would rather live herebut thinks they will stay outthere till they get some moneyas they can make more out there. Mister David Spraguewas burried last friday, I suppose you have got yourhouse cleaning all done by thistime ore did you keep it soclean that it does not needit. I have got mine to do yet

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down stairs I done the upslairs a couple of weeksago but didnt feel likedoing much last week I havehad a lame backhow is your face is itbroke out yet.Your pa does not have to go so far as your placeto hunt. there was a hawk chicken hawk lit inone of the elem trees northof the house yester day andhe got the gun and killedit, thinks he is a great marksman now,

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I was talking to MrsDraper one day last weekand she said Edith andher husband expectedto be hone for christmas.Your pa said he seenSanty in Belhavenone day last week andhe was going north soyou had better get yourstockings ready. ashe might get there by christmas.Hello Ethel - this is Tuesday and we have been washing

this forenoon. We cleaned the front room yesterdayand the parlor. Mrs RobSmith is here this afternoonShe just came a littlewhile ago. I am goingup to the market soam in a hurry. Dr Clarkwas asking Gertie Nelsonhow you were gettingalong. Guess he thot itwas time you were backgetting your teeth fixed.Pa and Ma have bothhad lame backs and toothache lately. Write soonand come to see your loving Mother little Nell - Sadie

Genealogy Notes

As you may have noticed, this letter doesn't give a date it was written. However, it does give 3 dates of reference:

Death and burial of David Sprague

New baby girl to Mrs Andy Tompson

New baby boy to Mrs Joe Stickland

Searching the Newmarket Era, I found this clipping which threw me off guard because it states David Sprague died on Nov. 26, 1913... however it was released on page 2 of The Newmarket Era of November 29th, 1912:

The Newmarket Era. November 29, 1912

To complicate matters, I did not find a reference to either of the births but that wasn't too unusual because Ida could have spelled them as variations such as Thompson vice Tompson, and Stickland as Strickland. All were valid names, but none came up in a search for births for Nov 1912 or 1913.

The Newmarket Era. April 4, 1913

Another reason I wasn't worried is because not all social news was carried in the paper. Some families didn't like their news being broadcast and the paper respected those wishes. Having a birth or death announcement in the paper has always been a courtesy - not a requirement.

In my search I stumbled upon one other bit of evidence confirming David Sprague's death of Nov 26th, 1912 and that was the settling of his estate in the spring of 1913.

Since it usually takes several months to settle an estate, there is no doubt of David Sprague's death in 1912, thus this week's letter of Dec 1st is definitely from 1912.

And now I'm off to sort through my files for births, deaths, marriages, etc in the coming year and match them up with newspaper clippings and photos and bring them to you in an order that resembles true life in Noah and Ethel's family as well as their loved ones.

As these posts may be irregular over the coming weeks until I starting posting Noah's WW1 letters, your can keep informed of new posts by clicking on the link for RSS FEED in the right sidebar and you'll get an email notification whenever I publish a new post.

The Adams, SK house that Noah Draper built for Ethel Nelson in 1911 prior to their 1912 marriage. Photos courtesy of the Norma Draper Family Photograph Collection.

The Draper's house at Adam's, SK after enclosing the veranda in screens. Noah and Ethel's album says the front windows were blown out in the 1912 Regina cyclone.

In this week's letter, Noah's cousin George Draper comments that Noah probably witnessed the Storm from his place at Adams, SK. Although Ethel didn't mention it in her post card in last week's post about the June 1912: Regina's F4 Cyclone, they may have spotted something because the distance along the track from the C.N.R. station in Regina to the siding in Adams is an official distance of 13 miles (20 km).

Places/things mentioned in this letter or in the Genealogy Notes:- the storm - the 1912 Regina F4 cyclone I blogged about last week- a man engaged - the hired man

Cliches/Phrases- cuz - George signs the letter "your Cuz, Geo Draper"

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Keswick Sept 15th 1912

Mr. Noah Draper Grand CouleeDear Noah. Pretty near time I answeredyour Card July 12th. was glad tohear from you My was'nt thatCyclone desperate Suppose you couldsee the Storm from your place. Itwould certainly look fierce Stewart saidHe went & saw the ruins and isgoing to send me some pictures of itI got a letter from him on the 9th Septhas all his wheat cut & oatswithout Frost or Hail pretty Lucky I hopeyou escaped the same was yourcrops pretty Good this year. It dontseem long ago. since Iwas up there with you. driveing aroundthrough the wheat. How is Aunty

2I hope She is well. is She liveingwith you or Ethel Riglerwe are not through Harvest yet Barleyto Draw yet & some Peas to cut. & DrawPretty slow In Ont, Eh. But In order to havea crack shot He has to come fromNorth Gwillimbury and show Noah how totumble the Ducks. no doubt you have said to your self many times | ifIcouldonlyshootlike | George Draper |Iwouldgiveagooddeal | But youmay learn after a long time. ofcourse I showed you quite a Bit.I am going up at the Head of the BayeTomorrow to shoot a few Doz DucksCome along Noah and I will give youanother Lesson It is raining toBeat the Devil to Day we have had aDesperate lot of Rain this Summer.Come East this Winter and we will donothing but Fish I have a Man Engagedfor the Winter & I am going to FisheveryDay Come along I know Ethelwould like to come Home guess Edith& Frank are comeing for the Winterwrite me Noah soon With kind Regards to all In your Home your Cuz GeoDraper

Genealogy Notes

On Sep 23rd, 1908 George, 28 yrs old, bachelor farmer, married Eliza Alberta Hamilton, 23 yrs old, Spinster, daughter of David Hamilton & Priscilla Stevenson. George and Eliza both reside in North Gwillimbury, and both attend the Christian church.

The 1911 census finds George and Eliza living on the Draper Homestead near Keswick in the house where he'd been born, where his father Stephen Draper had been born, and where his grandfather Joel Draper Jr had worked the crown-deeded virgin uncleared land when York County was first being settled.

1911 Canada census showing George and Eliza living on the Draper homestead along with his parents, Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart, and his unmarried sister, Edith.

I'm not sure where George's oldest brother, Charles J, is in 1911, but he'll eventually take over the family farm while the rest of the siblings headed west, returning to Ontario to spend the winters with family and friends.

In this letter, George mentions driving through the wheat fields with Noah and although he doesn't give a date, we can surmise he's talking about the trip he took west during the summer of 1911, partly because of this clipping:

The Newmarket Era. August 18, 1911 - pg. 6

George also mentions the 1912 Regina cyclone in his letter, and how he's waiting for pictures from his brother Stewart, who's renting a farm at Indian Head, east of Regina. I don't have Stewart's photos, but if you haven't looked yet, check out last week's post for images of the ruins.

1913 finds George heading west on a business trip. Perhaps the trip was to buy land?

The Newmarket Era. October 3, 1913 - pg. 6

I only make that assumption because a mere 4 months later, George and Eliza are preparing to move to Wolfe, Saskatchewan.

The Newmarket Era. February 13, 1914

By the time the special 1916 Western Canada census rolled around, George's sister, Almeda and her husband, James Edward Baker and their 2 children, Milburn and Ruby, had joined George and Eliza on their quarter section of land at Wolfe, RM of Reford, Saskatchewan.

It isn't until 1919 where we find the first mention of a child born to George and Eliza and that's thanks again to the newspaper back in York County:

The Newmarket Era. December 12, 1919 - pg. 2

George and Eliza named their son, Ernest David and there is no record of any siblings for him. I spent hours searching for Ernest. Thanks to the Sask Genealogical Society, I found obits for an Ernest and Lillian Draper who retired from farming in the same area and moved to North Battleford. Every matched ... until I realized it couldn't be George's son because this Ernest was born in the late 1800's in Wisconsin and not 1919 in Saskatchewan. What a letdown.

George, Eliza, and Ernest show up on the 1921 Canada census and I have newspapaper clippings of them for a few years after that, but then they fall off the radar. A very brief - too brief and sketchy - description is given in the Landis Record history Book, where it shows them renting the land and moving back to Ontario until 1950, and then spending the summers at Wolfe, and the winters in York County.

There's hope though because I still have Noah's WW1 letters to post and although we know where George and Eliza are during the war, I still have several years of Ethel's diaries from the 1940-50's left to go as well as a batch of letters which I glanced at but not made notes for. Hopefully somewhere in there is a clue to their whereabouts.

Of course, if you have any information about this family - pictures would be lovely - please help us fill in the blanks:

Remember this Real Photo Post Card (RPPC) from last week? Ethel must have written it on June 30, 1912 because of what she wrote on the back...

Ethel wrote to her 11 yr old sister, Christie, on the back of the above RPPC except I don't believe she actually mailed it due to the lack of a stamp and the fact that it was still in Ethel's possession. I've found other notes and letters in her Treasure Box written in draft form which implies that she wrote a practice one first, and then mailed a second one. Or, she could have kept it as a souvenir because of the date and information.

I've posted the same backing in two directions so you can read it for yourself, but here's what Ethel wrote to Christie:

Christie why don't youwrite anymore. Willyou see what AnnieOwens & Olive Lee's addressesare. I think they are on oneof those post cards hangingon the wall, Noah and I are going to

Miss Christie Nelson

Belhaven,

Ontario

Regina to-morrow. also Eva& Joe. Louie & Fred & Mrs Draper,going to see the ruins. I guessit is something fierce. the mainpart of the town is all wiped outCarried a loaded street car 40 rods.Bye-Bye. Love from sister Ethel.

The Cyclone

On June 30, 1912 Canada was making final preparations the next day's Dominion Day celebrations and Regina was no exception. At 5 pm after a day of extreme heat, a combination of a cyclone and tornado due to two storm clouds colliding, hit the ground 18 km (12 mls) south of the city and cut a swath 400 yds (2-3 blocks) wide heading north through grain elevators, business and warehouse districts, and manufacturing plants, with the worst of the damage downtown and in the affluent residential area between Wascana and Victoria Parks.

The Morning Leader - Jul 1, 1912, Page 2

It was over in 20 mins leaving 28 people dead or dying, hundreds seriously injured, 2500 homeless, and over 400 of the finest buildings in the city - some the finest in the province - destroyed or missing. Total cost in 1912 - over 5 million dollars.

For sure Noah and Ethel and the family went to Regina to see the aftermath of the cyclone because Noah took this RPPC of the YWCA:

The thought occurs to me as I look at these photos is that Noah, Ethel, Louie, Fred, Joe, Eva, and Sarah Draper could be some of the people walking around looking at the ruins, but from the distance, I can't tell.

Some of the photograph captions mention that being taken atop a building and I can only assume that's what the man on the roof of the YWCA above is doing.

Here's another view - a lighter one - of the YWCA and surrounding buildings at the corner of Victoria and Lorne.

1912 Regina Cyclone - Corner of Victoria Ave and Lorne St., Ruins of the Metropolitan Methodist Church on the left, and then the YWCA , Courtesy of Glenbow Archives.

The Metropolitan Methodist Church was constructed in 1910 at a cost of $100,000 only 1 1/2 yrs before the 1912 cyclone. Here's what it look like before June 30th.

Here's a different view of Lorne St as we look north toward the railway tracks and beyond to the warehouse district. Note the Knox Presbyterian Church down the street on the right.

1911 - Corner of Lorne Street and Victoria Avenue - Victoria Park on the right, Metropolitan Methodist Church on the left, and Knox Presbyterian Church down the street. Courtesy of City of Regina Archives Photograph Collection.

Before the 1912 Regina Cyclone: Knox Presbyterian Church at the corner of Lorne and 12th, and the YMCA at the Cornwall and 12th. Taken from Victoria Park. Courtesy of the Prairie History Room at the Regina Public Library.

Here's the Knox Presbyterian Church after the cyclone left it in ruins.

Regina 's residents were left to pick up the pieces of their broken city. The dead were buried, the injured were treated, and the rubble was hauled away. An apocryphal story says that Boris Karloff, best known as Frankenstein's Monster of movie fame, was acting in a play at one of Regina 's theatres that day. Karloff supposedly stayed in Regina and helped with the cleanup operation. It took only a year for most of the city's buildings and houses to be rebuilt. Carpenters and other tradesmen came from as far away as Winnipeg to help with the massive rebuilding efforts. The debt stayed behind considerably longer – it took almost 40 years to pay off the loans that the city and its residents took out to aid in the rebuilding efforts.

Ethel is now in Adams, Saskatchewan and enjoying her life as a newlywed. How do I know? Because this week's post contains a letter from Hester Prosser - close neighbor and friend of Ethel back in Belhaven - and Hester mentions what Ethel wrote her.

In the above RPPC, it looks like the object on the near right is the CNR track laying machine from last week's post.

Places/things mentioned in this letter or in the Genealogy Notes:- *Toronto- Owen Sound - 170 km/106 ml fm Keswick on the southern shore of Georgian Bay- Paisley - 55 km/34ml south of Owen Sound- The West - Canadian prairie provinces of Man, Sask and Alberta- Newmarket Era - local newspaper- the car - the streetcar

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven Mar 21st 1912

My Dear Friend Ethel Your very welcomeletter was duly received and readwith a great deal of interest. Am so glad to hear you like yournew house, and that the climateagrees with you. so far, I presumeit is pretty well settled, Where youare. So nice to be near Ethel Rigler.I would like that part of it myself.She was my neighbor here for a short timeand I was sorry indeed to lose her. Iliked both her and Will, give themmy kindest regards. When you seethem next. Mr Brooks called infor a while yesterday. Martha is athome this week, but expects to startfor the West next week. She and a

sister-in-law, their husbands wenta couple of weeks ago. I think you arewise to subscribe for the Newmarket Eraam sure it would be an interestingletter to me, if I were to move awaythere is so much home news in it. Say, Ethel. We had the worst stormlast Friday that I ever witnessed, allday long, and half the night. the roadswere in a terrible state, and the scholarsfrom High School, will not be apt toforget it very soon, they had suchan experience getting home. & some didnot reach home. Annie King stayed atMr. S. Winch's all night, and Lulu stayedat Mr Dave Sprague's. Mr King startedto go for Annie, but only got as far as your place, the road was full. We heard the sleigh pass here about

nine o'clock, with Mary Sheppard and the Breuls boys. Whetford & Mr Breulshad went after them, each put in a horsethe car was late getting in, and then thehorses tired out, or got discouraged, severaltimes, the men had to go ahead, andtramp roads. Herbert Winch & his family (they had been to the city.)were all in the sleigh, and Erwin Winchso it was heavily loaded, twelve altogether,but Saturday morning the road breakingcommenced. Our Choir was invited toMr John Sheppard's that night, andbad as the roads were, there was elevenyoung people there for practise. Wehad a very pleasant evening. Lowellpreached on Sunday, his last twosermons have been the best he hasever preached, he is a fine boyjust what he seems to be. We areexpecting Prof. Dales for the next two

Sundays. the Choir spent a pleasantevening at Your Father's two weeks ago (We are invited to Mr. Frank Morton's this week.)and I got Sadie to come home with uswe spent the next day together, it wasa busy one too. We went to Isaac Prossersfuneral in the morning. S.S. in the afternoonand Belhaven service in the evening.hope to have her again if she will come. Adele came home with us last Sundayfrom S.S. She & her Father have gone awayto spend a couple of weeks, they started outMonday. will visit in Toronto, Owen Sound, &Paisley, his two brothers live in the twoplaces & his sister in Toronto. Adele deservingthe trip. She is a good worker. Christie sang (she did fine)a pretty solo in S.S. last Sunday. Blanche B.is to sing one next Sunday. Alma & Johnniesang one two weeks ago. I love the pieces fromthe little ones, it reminds me so much of AliceGlad to hear you are attending Presbyterian Church.How much we miss you here, but our loss is Noah'sgain. Godblessyouboth in your far away home. Your Sincere friend, H. Prosser Write again

Genealogy Notes

Genealogy Note 1 - Mr Brooks and Martha

At the bottom of page 1, Hester mentions Mr. Brooks and his daughter Martha:

Mr Brooks called in for a while yesterday. Martha is athome this week, but expects to start for the West next week. She and a sister-in-law, their husbands wenta couple of weeks ago.

And here's what the local newspaper had to say about the wedding:

The Newmarket Era. March 8, 1912 - Page: 2

The Newmarket Era. March 8, 1912 - Page: 6

The Newmarket Era. March 8, 1912 - Page: 6

Genealogy Note 2 - The Great Storm

Hester relates about kids unable to get from school due to the snowstorm that descended upon them that March. Here's what the newspaper said about it:

The Newmarket Era. March 22, 1912 - Page: 7

The Newmarket Era. March 22, 1912 - Page: 1

The Newmarket Era. March 22, 1912 - Page: 6

Genealogy Notes 3 - Prof. Dales & Lowell

Prof Dales has been mentioned as a minister several times over the course of the 1911 Courtship letters, and the closest I've came to his identity was that he came from the Toronto area.

And now in this week's letter, Hester Prosser mentions:

Lowell preached on Sunday, his last two sermons have been the best he has ever preached, he is a fine boy just what he seems to be. We areexpecting Prof. Dales for the next two Sundays.

From Hester's words, I wondered if Lowell might be a son of Prof Dales and following in the old man's footsteps. A quick search on Ancestry.ca for Lowell Dales brought up this 1911 census listing:

In 1911 Professor John Nelson Dales, and his family, including 20 yr old Lowell, were living in Drayton, Ontario. A few columns to the right on this census shows Prof Dales as a minister and Lowell as a student. Although we don't know what or where Lowell was studying, I'm presuming it was theology like his dad.

Stay tuned for next week when we find out about the 1912 Regina cyclone which Ethel mentions on the back of the RPPC shown at the top of this post.